Japanese Prime Minister to resign

[nageov3t]

on the heels of the German president, it looks like the Japanese Prime Minster is going to resign... no info yet on the why.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/asia/02japan.html

Japan’s prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, told the nation in a televised address Wednesday that he plans to resign.


Word of his planned resignation came after Mr. Hatoyama’s approval ratings dipped in recent weeks when he reneged on a prominent campaign promise by announcing that an American air base would be moved only to the north side of Okinawa rather than off the island.
In national elections in 2009, Mr. Hatoyama’s party roundly defeated the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party, ending a half-century of virtually uninterrupted one-party rule in the country.


Mr. Hatoyama’s election came on a tide of voter dissatisfaction, after three bumbling Liberal Democratic leaders lasted a year or less in office, and Japan was hit hard by the global economic slowdown.


Mr. Hatoyama told senior officials of the ruling Democratic Party of his plans to resign, according to NHK television, which first reported the news.


The prime minister has faced growing pressure from within his own party to resign ahead of July elections.

 

[mizzou]

orgy?

 

[UberNeuman]

orgy?

Tentacle porn?

Was this the guy who promised to move the US base, then backed down?

 

[K1052]

He made a campaign promise to move the US Marine base off Okinawa, one that could not be fulfilled due to commitments the US had already received from the Japanese government and the lack of an workable alternative.

 

[mizzou]

Fall on your sword!

 

[alphatarget1]

He made a campaign promise to move the US Marine base off Okinawa, one that could not be fulfilled due to commitments the US had already received from the Japanese government and the lack of an workable alternative.

Wow, a politician who resigns after he realizes he can't keep his promise. I wish we had more like him here in the US.

 

[Genx87]

What next the Italian prime minister?

 

[Binarycow]

Wow, a politician who resigns after he realizes he can't keep his promise. I wish we had more like him here in the US.

Apparently not all scums are without traces of honor.

 

[JS80]

Underage schoolgirl underwear from vending machine

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Wave motion cannon.

 

[lsquare]

Hatoyama is an idiot for making a promise that he can't keep. His fall from grace is clearly of his own doing. I think I read either on FT, WSJ, or the NY Times that Hatoyama knew his days were numbered, but he wanted to be PM for as long as possible or at least as long as his predecessors before resigning.

It's sad and pathetic that Japan has had 4 PMs in 4 years. It's like a bit of Italian deja vu.

 

[lsquare]

He made a campaign promise to move the US Marine base off Okinawa, one that could not be fulfilled due to commitments the US had already received from the Japanese government and the lack of an workable alternative.

In theory Hatoyama could have removed the US military out of Japan if he really wanted to, but that would be foolish and not all Japanese people would agree with such a decision. The fact is Northeast Asia is still very much a volatile environment. China and North Korea remains a challenge to Japan's national security. Hatoyama was foolish for thinking that Japan can really align with China. In light of the sinking of the Cheonan, it's absolutely necessary that US forces remain in the region to help maintain the peace.

 

[Patranus]

Tentacle porn?

Was this the guy who promised to move the US base, then backed down?

Its not like he could have moved the U.S. base even if he tried.

 

[lsquare]

Its not like he could have moved the U.S. base even if he tried.

Japan is a sovereign country. If it wants US forces removed from Okinawa then it has the right to do so.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Japan is a sovereign country. If it wants US forces removed from Okinawa then it has the right to do so.

I believe that it still must adhere to this, or its present state.

 

[Thump553]

If this forum existed 25-30 years ago, a dominant theme would have been concern about Japan taking over (by buying out) the US. It's amazing to remember that mind set and look at the situation today-a lost decade, flat (at best) economic growth despite zero or lower interest rates for well over a decade, the lifetime employment model totally blown, Toyota (a major engine of their economy), aging citizenship with increasing unfunded social welfare costs, and now a political system mirroring post WWII Italy.

If nothing else this shows the fallacy of one track thinking, assuming that set of conditions A will continue uninterupted into the future.

 

[Kirby]

This is what one of my Japanese friends said about it.

They are main points [referring to Okinawa base] because firstly he declared eight months ago that he would move the US base to somewhere at least outside of Okinawa but eventually he could not make it. Although he had changed his opinions and policies so often, he had not been responsible to what he said before, or he did not even understand what he was doing. Interestingly... See More, many issues what he criticized of previous prime ministers just can be applied to himself. This inconsistency made so many people not to trust him.

I think what actually moved his mind is being pressurized by Ozawa and some powerful figures of the DPJ into quitting for the coming election scheduled in July since his approval rate is not so high as 20% any longer. I do not think this was his will but he had to resign to "perform" so DPJ will win the next competition. Yet I believe Japanese people are not so credulous to give wrong votes again.

LOL at his engrish.

 

[tk149]

Wow, a politician who resigns after he realizes he can't keep his promise. I wish we had more like him here in the US.

We wouldn't have anybody left in office!

Actually, that's not really funny 'cuz it's true.